Chapter 12: A panther found its mate
"So was your journey fruitful?" Darius turned to T'Challa and inquired about the journey he partook to the borders of Wakanda to resolve some minor conflicts.
"Well you could say that."
"Is that a blush I see on your face, go on, tell me about it," Darius inched his face closer in curiosity.
"Did brother get a girlfriend?" Shuri voiced her input.
"Or maybe a boyfriend?" Both Shuri and T'Challa turned to look at Darius will disdainful eyes. Darius simply shrugged and said, " When you have lived for as long as I have you'll learn not to judge."
"I thought that was you job," T'Challa said.
"Details details," he waved them off, "we should be focusing on your story. Tell us what happened and who did you meet.
"It was a girl," T'Challa began, "Oooo spicy, I like where this is going." But was quickly interrupted by Darius. Fed up, Shuri came from behind and managed to put some sort of device onto his mouth, "That should shut you up for a bit."
In reply he simply rolled his eyes at her. If this was what it took to shut him up them he would have been a mute a long time ago.
"Will you let me finish," T'Challa pleaded. "The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can go sleep."
"So here's what happened--"
[A couple days before]
In the far corners of Wakanda, deep in the jungle, a convoy of trucks slowly made its way through the dense foliage. The air was thick with the sounds of nature, the chirping of birds, and the rustling of leaves.
T'Challa, not yet burdened with the mantle of the Black Panther, rode in one of the leading vehicles, his eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.
It was his first solo mission, a diplomatic venture to a remote village known for its skilled artisans and rich cultural heritage.
The convoy came to a halt near a clearing, where the village elders awaited their arrival. The village was a vibrant blend of tradition and innovation, with thatched-roof huts alongside solar-powered homes.
As T'Challa stepped out of the truck, he was greeted warmly by the villagers. He could sense the respect and admiration they held for his family, but his attention was soon captured by something, or rather, someone else.
Among the welcoming villagers was a young woman with striking features and a confident demeanor. Her name was Nakia.
She stood out not just because of her beauty but because of the way she carried herself with a quiet strength. She wore traditional attire, adorned with intricate beadwork, yet her eyes sparkled with intelligence and an adventurous spirit.
T'Challa's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. He approached her, offering a warm smile. "Hello, I am T'Challa."
Nakia smiled back, her gaze unwavering. "I know who you are, Prince T'Challa. Welcome to our village. I'm Nakia."
They spent the rest of the day engaging in the mission's activities, but T'Challa found himself increasingly drawn to Nakia. He watched as she interacted with the villagers, her compassion and dedication evident in every gesture.
She was more than just a pretty face; she was a warrior in her own right, dedicated to the well-being of her people.
As evening fell, the villagers gathered for a celebration in honor of their guests. The air was filled with the sound of drums and the aroma of traditional Wakandan dishes.
T'Challa found himself seated next to Nakia, and they began to talk more freely. They discussed their hopes and dreams for Wakanda, their shared love for their country, and their desire to see it thrive and prosper.
"You're different from what I expected," T'Challa admitted, his eyes fixed on Nakia.
Nakia raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her lips. "Different? How so?"
"Strong, intelligent, passionate," T'Challa replied. "You're not afraid to speak your mind, and you genuinely care about the people."
Nakia's smile softened. "I believe that if we all work together, we can make Wakanda a better place. It's not just about the royal family; it's about every single person in our nation."
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, and as the night wore on, they found themselves walking together under the starlit sky.
The jungle around them was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, but all T'Challa could focus on was Nakia. They reached a small, serene pond, its surface reflecting the moonlight.
"Thank you for showing me your village," T'Challa said, his voice sincere. "I've learned so much today, and I've met someone truly remarkable."
Nakia looked into his eyes, her expression softening. "And I've met someone who I believe will be a great king one day."
[Present]
"Now that's a 'How met your mother' moment if I've ever heard one." Swifty removing the device that bound his mouth, Darius voiced his opinion.
"So what happened next, did you kiss under the night sky mwah mwah mwah," he made kissy faces while acting out a scene of two young ppl walking in the night with his magic.
"You grow more absurd by the day," Shuri said, weirded out by his actions but grew ever so curious about the spectacle presented before them.
"Oh hush, let the boy finish his story." he replied.
'But you're the one who interrupted ~sigh~ men.' Shuri thought.
Embarrassed by Darius' actions, T'Challa said in a soft voice, "Nothing of the sort happened. We parted ways shortly after that."
"But you were gone for 4 days, you must have at least done something in that time." Shuri added, amused by her brothers love encounter.
"That's the thing, she was gone the next morning, no where to be found." T'Challa replied in a sombre tone.
"Gone gone? Like poof?"
"Yes like poof. I asked my guards whether they had seen me with anyone to make sure she wasn't a figment of my imagination."
"'Andddddddd???'" Both Shuri and Darius asked.
"They confirmed that I was with someone but after that she was never to be seen again." His voice grew quieter by the second. They could tell he was heavily affected by this.
"It's oky young prince, first loves' always come back one way or another. If you were meant to be that is." Darius, the guru of everything that involved a person's heart, added his own words of wisdom.
"Speaking from experience are we?" And Shuri, the persistent troublemaker, added her own bit of undeveloped wisdom.
"Hush child, you've filled your daily quota of snarky remarks." With a flick of the wrist he took away Shuri's ability to speak.
"Mmmm mnmnm mmn!!" Shuri struggled for a bit before resigning to her fate. T'Challa couldn't help smirking at this. How he wished he had that ability to shut his sister up whenever he wanted.
"Now where was I? Oh, fear not child, she will come back, one day. You just have to be patient."
"You think so?" T'Challa asked in a soft tone.
"I can always find her for you, its but a simple task for me," Darius said, raising his staff ready to cast a locater spell on the girl.
"No! I mean no, if what you said is true then we will find each other in due time."
Darius smirked, "That's the spirit! Come along children, a feast awaits us."
"What feast? I don't recall father organising a feast for us." T'Challa was confused along with Shuri. Did he organise a feast without their knowledge. Well considering who he was he had the power and authority to do so.
"Mmmmn?" Shuri mumbled in confusion.
"Just come along. You will thank me later." Darius tapped his staff on the metal floor and mysterious force began pulling the twins towards him, ensuring that the couldn't run away.
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[Somewhere in America]
[A week ago]
Nick Fury sat in the dimly lit command centre his one good eye scanning the latest intelligence reports. A sudden alert flashed on the screen, catching his attention.
Reports indicated an unidentified object had landed in one particular country in the East Africa.
"Activate satellite feeds over Wakanda," Fury ordered, his voice calm but edged with urgency. The screens flickered to life, showing images of the vibrant, hidden nation.
Of course all his satellites could see was the lush green forests of Wakanda and the multiple small villages scattered around. SHIELD's technology was no where near to discovering the treasure that lay hidden in that country
"This is no ordinary incident," he muttered to himself. His mind raced through the possibilities—alien, supernatural, or perhaps something even more complex.
Fury quickly initiated a secure line to one of his agents. As he waited for the connection, his thoughts ran through multiple possibilities and possible threats this incident brought.
*Beep*
The phone rang out, signifying a secure connection. "Director?" a voice came through.
"Get me an agent here stat." Fury barked out.
"We only have agent Lana available sir, should I send her?"
"Send her."
*Beep*
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[New characters incoming!!!!! Try and guess who she is. She's a legitimate spy too, oh and black. Whoever can guess right I'll fulfil one request of theirs.]